Clarinet.



P. RAMOS.

CLARINET.

AIPLIOATIOH FILED FEB. 1, 1909.

Patented Mar. 1, 1910.

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V CLARINET. APPLICATION I'ILED FEB. 1, 1909.

Patented Mar. 1, 1910.

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P. RAMOS.

CLARINET.

APPLIGATIOH FILED FEB. 1, 1909.

Patented Mar. 1, 1910.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

ZHQZWMQM FRANCISCO RAMOS DI" CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

OLLBINET.

Specification of Letters l'atent.

Application tiled February], 1909. serial No. 475,852.

Patented Mar. 1, 1910.

To all whom it may concern: I I. v

Be it'known that I Faanorsoo Ramos, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Clarinets, of which the following is a s ecification.

My invention r ates to reed and wind instruments, particularl lo'phones, oboes, etc, and t e object of the invention is to facilitate the playing of various sequences, also to facilitate the production of accurate pitchfor certain notes as Wlll hereinafter more. fully appear.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate a clarinet embodying my im rovements Figure 1 and 2 are views of di erent sides of a clarinet embodying my invention. Fig. 3 is a development or diagrammatic '30 view of the keys and operating mechanism.

- Fig. 4:l8 a fragmentar sectional view on the line ig. 3 and igs. 5 to 13 inclusive are detail views of various ortions of mechanism as will be hereina ter more clearly :5 brought .out.

Similar letters and numerals refer to simillalr arts throughout the several views.

"T e letters A. to G refer to musical notes and are applied to parts which are operated to produce the notes having the particular letters.

I will describe my improvements in connection with a B flat clarinet of the Albert type and will refer to the notes as of the up or register. (1y instrument is rovided with the pads B, C# D#, F, (E, G#, A and A41: and rings 1) i] and F# win the ordinar Albert B that clarinet eiicept'that the ho es A and G are closed with'pad keys instead of rinEbkeys.

ove the pad C is a ad C coverin a hole beneath it. Said pa is spring urge to remain normally open. The function of 45 said pad and hole is to cooperate with pad 0 to produce the note G natural and also to co- 0 crate with the pad B to roduce the note sharp. .This is in con ormity with the construction employed in the Albert system.

A bove the pad A is a hole provided with a ring B w ich is spring-urged to remain normally raised. This hole when closgd by the fin%er of the player produces the note octave as in the Al ert system. The till at this hole operates the ad C whic covers a hole beneath it an is located beclarinets, saxokey .8 ahd has an arm cwhich overlies the tween the pad A and ring B. This pad must be raised to produce the proper pitch for the note F shar in the lowest space of the musical staff an the C sharp above'the staflbas in the Albert system. Pad C. is. spring urged to remain normally raised. It will be hereinafter a parent as to which of these are particularly concerned with my present improvements. r v

p The pads B and'G and C are normally open, each being provided-with a'spring for this pur ose. Pad C# is normally closed, being eld in such position by means I of a spring. The ring key Dis, normally down. The pad D# is,provided with a weak s rin which tendsto raise it-but is normal y he (1 closed by means of a st r on'ger sprin of key 4 Ring key- If is norms. ly open in provided with a spring for this purpose. ad F is normally closed'bei'ngm provided with a sprin iorthispufpose. Ring key F is spring ess' and loose. Pad

-G is normal y open being rovided with a spring for this purpose. ad G# is nor-' mally held down by the parts which overlie, it but is provided with a weak spring to raise it when released. Pad A is normally open and is provided with a s r' for this purpose. A#. is normally (50:25 h the 86 parts which overlie it but is provide with" a weak sprin for raising it when releasedv The ring B orming the octave above B isnormallfy open, being provided with a spring or t is urpose.

I will first escribe the special devices, including two auxiliary 'keys, by which I I facilitate the playing of such sequences as y B to D sharp (in the middle of the stall). Pad for B is mounted upon an arm or-stem b of the rock shaft b (see Figfo) which is spring urged to hold said pad raised position. Said shaft has an arm b. extend "mg in the opposite direction from stem'b and overlying the lower end of key 1. Said 1 key is fulcrumed between its ends'at the oint b; The result is that when key 1 is depressed pad for B will descend and close the hole beneath it. The pad for C# is oporated in the usual manner by the key 2. The pad for C isparried b, an arm or stem 0 of the rock shaft 0' whi is spring urged in such direction as to hold the a for G raised. Said rock shaft is operaFed by the pad-0? 4 a The pad 0 is carried by an arm 0 of the' rock shaft 0' which is springfurgediin such direction as to hold the pad 0 raised. Said rock shaft is also provided with an either by pressing key 1 or key-3 and the depressm of key 1 will close pad C and the pad ibr B and the de ressing of key '3 will close and the pads f or C and D#.

A special key 5 is secured to undo erates a rock shaft 7 which is provided wit arms 8, 9 and 10. The arms 8 and 9 extend in one direction and overlie the pads for C and B and the arm 10 extends in the opposite direction. Rock shaft 7 is spring urged in such direction as to hold thearms 8 and 9 in raised position. The arm 10 is merely a stop to prevent the arms 8 and 9 from rising too high. It construction is such that when key 5 is depressed the ad 0'' and the padsior B, C and D# wil be depressed to close the holes beneath them. The rock shaft 0 alsohas an arm a which extends in the op )osite direction from arm a and 0" the lever (l of the pad for D#, (see Fig. 7). Said lever is pivoted between its ends at the fulcrum d and is spring urged to hold pad for D# in raised position. Key 4 is secured to the rock shaft d. which is provided with an arm (1 extending in tion from said key 4. aid arm has a lprojeeliou adapted to overlie the pad for. A strong spring d urges rockshaft d in the proper direction and with suliieient force to ovcromc the spring'of pad for.l pad closed. The auxiliary.

andhold said key 6, fulcrume when depressed thus permit the weak spring of the pad for l)#. to raise the latter.

The )laying of the sequence B to D sharp will il ustrate the advantage ,of the above described mechanism.- Of course to produce ll natural all of the holes mustibc elosed and to make D sharp,- thc adC and-the pads for 1!, C and D# must r'aised-.' In the-old system the execution. of this sequenee requires the lifting of the little linger of th left hand from key 1 and simultaneouslythe slipping of the little linger of the right land from kc 3 to ke 4. \Vith m. mechanism 1 am ab e to p'rotliicc the note ing both keys 5 and (3 and then I can produce the note I) sharp by merel raisingthe little finger of the right hand run: the.

'lhe raising of he 5 causes the raising of pads for lit. and l and pad (1. 'lhus h holding the key (3 down and vibratin 1 t e key 5 the set uenee B to "sharp am back may be rapit ly and easily produced.

To play the sequence from O" to l) sharp the o )eration is the same as before except at the point (I is'adapted that t to key 3 is vibrated instead of key fur act 1- I will now de cribe mechanism for 1. Thus pad 0 may be closed will be seen that the.

and un erlies the opposite din-e0 to elevate thearm dand.

by depress key.

- taliug the playing must be down;

linger and therefore may ters spring.

lo A is produced by the do in )laymg ii the ltiat..said tin haid arm 12 is secured to the rock pressing the third linger of sequences such as from G sharp" to A a ore the stall); Of course in order to pro ace the note Gsharp the ad for lqli-mustfhc' up and the hole beneut i it open. To produce the note A natural the pad for (i must be up and the pad for G# g In the old system this sequence sharp to A natural required the simultaneous raisin of both the third and fourth lingers of'the left hand. As a result. of my improvements it is possible to play this sequence by moving merely the third finger of the left hand. The improved mechanism whereby this is'accomplished is and 12. Paid for shown in detail in Figs. '11 (i is adapted to be touehed directly by the be referred to as a pad key. It is carried by a stem secured to the rock'shaft g. Said rock shaft has an army extending in the op reotion from the stem g and adapte lie the extensiiin (1 of the ad for (l#'.. for i#is'fulermned at taspring influenced ,to normal I to overremain in open position. The rock shafty" however has astrongersprmg and tends to hold-pad for (l# closed in spite of the fllltt of the lat- Ctmsequently h '1 pressing pad for G; the e beneath it wil be closed and the hole 'G#" will be opened thereby produeinglhe'note (l sharp; Releasing pad for (r willcause the hole beneath it to be opened and the hole (l# to he closed thereby producing note A. Thus the sequence (l sharp aelion solely of pad fol- G. K

I'will now describe another of my lll1 movements whereby the third finger of the left hand mayfunassisted, cause the raising and lowering of the pad for (i. as for exam- C: sharp (above the stall). lhertsystem this requires the eoiiperation of both the third and fourth lingers. The parts are illustrated in detail in Figs. 11 and 12. Adjacent'to key pad G I place an arm 12 having a lug lt-l lying in such position that it mar be depressed by the third fingerofthe lelt hand at the same time ger depresses the pad for (l. shaft H which is provided with an arm 15 lying on the o posite side from arm I) and overlying lie pad for (l# which tends automatieally to open. Said arm 12 is provided with a spring strong enough to oven-onuthe s lring of pad for (i1 and hold the latlercl osed. Arm His long enough to underlie key 1 as shown in Fig. l. I .\s a result of the above described mechanism it is possible to hold both, pads for (i and (i# closed by of the left hand simultaneously upon pad key for (l and lo 13.

will now describe means for operating the pad for A# used in the prmha-lion of.

osite dil lOO the note A sharp above the stud. The parts are shown in Pig. 3 and separately to l 1g. 13. Pad for A4; is mounted upon an arm or stem a pivoted at a and spr ng urged to remain open. Said pad taprovnled with an extension a over which lies the arm I) of l the rock shaft 1) and the arln a of the rock j shaft 4. Rock shaft 11 is operated by the ring key B and rock shaft a is operated by the pad key for A. Said shafts are or ed in such direction that their armsb" an a will hold the pad for A# closed in spite of the force of the latters spring. Said pad v is also normally held down against the toree of its spring by the arm 16 of the rock shaft 16 which shaft is provided with keys 1? and 18, the keys 17 beit located between the pads for G and A as s own. Key 17 is provided with an-extension l9 adgaeent to the ad ke for A in such position that when sesirab e the player can with a single finger depress both the key for A and the lug 19. Sand rock shaft 16 has a branch 20 underlying the extension 21 of the rock shaft '22 which is operated by the key 23 located adjacent to the key for D and key 4. Branch 20 also underlies the corrector pad 24 wluch is ri id with rock shaft 26 wiich operates pad i and is operated both by ring key for D and ring key for E and the key 27 located between them. The result is that said rock shaft 16 may be operated either by the lug 19 or keys 17, 18, 23, 24 or keys for or 15. By this arrangement I am able to dispense with one hole, to wit, the one usually located on the op osite side of the barrel from the hole beneat the pad for A#.

Another of my improvements 1S illustrated in detail in the upper portion of Fig. 113 and will nciw beldescribeidz To pi'odnce tie r0 er ite l in ayin he notes in the s tat i an d C shar p char e the stud the ordinary B flat clarinet is rovided with a hole beneath the pad C as iereinnbove mentioned. In playing C sharp above the statf the pad 0 must be raised while for all lower notes it must be down. In my construction I mount said and on a stem 0 extending from the rock 5 tuft 6. These parts are spring urged in such direction as to hold the ad 0 up. Extending from the stem 0 is a ranch o" underlying the stem of key A i and another branch r" underlving the key] B as shown in Fig. 13. It will be seen that. l pad C will remain depressed when either one of the key for A or key B is depressed, i as in the old system, but as a result of my 1 construction the key for A and keys 13" and C are independently operable and yet the notel 0 natural will be produced with proper I lie I. p Having thus described my inventimnwhat I claim an new and desire to secure by Lettors Patent, is: l. in an matrtnnent of the class dcseribeth;

the combination of ads controlling the notes B and (J, a pad near the pad for C, and a key 5 having arms overlying the pads for B and the pad for (3 being provided with an arm overlying the pad Cl.

2. In an instrument of the class described, the combination of the pads controlling the notes B and C, a pad 0'', a key a rock shaft operated thereby, and adapted when depressed to close the pads for B and C and an arm rigidly connected to the pad for (7 and overlying the pad (1 whereby when said key is de )ressed t 10 pads for B, C and C" will be closed.

3. In an instrument of the class described, a pad for D# spring-influenced to rise, a spring actuated key 4 adapted to be player] by the fourth finger of the ri ht hand and having an arm normally be! ing said pad in closed position against. the force of the latters spring and an auxiliary key 6 adapted to be played by the fourth finger of the left hand and on aging said arm and adapted to remove it rom engagement with said ad.

4. u an instrument of the class described, the pad for D# spring-influenced to remain 0 en, the he 4 ada )ted to be played by t e fourth nger o' the right and and having means for closing said pad aga nst the influence of its 5 ring and the auxiliary key 6 adapted to played by the fourth finger of the left hand and adapted to remove key 4 from engagement with said pad.

5. 11 an instrument of the class described, the combination of the sprin opened pad for G#, the rock shaft g, t e arm overlyin said ad and the pad key for G said nd key an arm bein on opposite sides 0 the rock shaft 9'' Il!1( said rock shaft being spring'urged in a direction and with sufficient force to hold the pad for G# closed.

6. In an instrument of the class described, the combination of the pad for G# spring-urged to remain open, the pad-key for G spring-urged to remain open and provided with means for holding the pad for G# closed when the key for G is 0 en, a member 15 spring urged with so lcient force to hold said pad for G# closed, and means part of which is adjacent to the pad key for G so as to be operable from the same linger which operates the pad key for (.i for moving arm 15 to a position to release the pad for (i#.

7 In an instrumentof the class described, the combination of the pad for G# airing-urged to rcnutin open, the pad key or (i spring-nrgml to remain open and provided with menus for holdin r the pad for U# closed when the pad key or (i is open, it member Hi spring-awed with sulllcicnt force to hold said pad or G4}: eloscd, an

ltltl lla'i lilU arm 12 for o ratin arm 15 and a lug 13 1 on said arm yi a meant to the pad key for G and opera le from the same fin er which operates said he whereb pad or G# may be automatica ly open by a sm- 1 gle finger pressin eimultuneously upon the j padkey for G an lug 13.

8. In a clarinet, the combination of the; pad for G having a stron sparing ur ng it to open position, the pa or (1# ving a week spring urging it to open osltion, the arm 2 o'verlym the ad for nndi conneete to the a for in such manner E that when the pa for G is open the arm g i will be down and thus hold the pad for G# closed, the lever 12 having a ortion adapted to overlie the pad for sald lever I having a spring stro enough to overcome i the 5 ring of the pad or G and the key 1 over ying the lever 12 on t e opposite side of the fulcrum from the portion overlying 1 the pad for G#.

9. In a clarinet, the combination of a key provided with a pad for closing the A hole, the pad for A# spring-urged to open, i

emcee neans connected to said key normally holdmg the pad for A# closed against the force of the latters SPI'IDF, a spring ur ed member 16 also normal y holding sai pad for Ad closed against the force of the latters spring, and a member 19 connected to said member lfiflfor operating it, said member 19 being ad acent to said key, and ada ted to be operated simultaneously therewit by the same finger of the operator.

1p. In an instrument of the class de scribed, the A pad key the tin key 18 above 1t, and the pad locate between them, all three farts being independently movable, the pa C having arms underlymg send keys whereby when either of said keys is closed the pad (I will be closed.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscrlbed my name in the presence of two wit- 185895.

FRANCISCO RAMOS. 

